Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Geology of Bangladesh

Q-1: “Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world.” Why and how? Explain
the phenomenon in terms of geology of Bangladesh.
Ans:
Bangladesh is the biggest delta in the world because it is under the active
processes of Delta development and morphological changes, by the Ganges-
Brahmaputra-Meghna river systems.
Bangladesh comprises a part of the Bengal basin. The Bengal basin lies at the
head of the Bay of Bengal. The basin is bordered by the Himalayan ranges and
shilling mass in the north, Indian shield in Bihar in the west and Tripura-
Chittagong-Arakan massif in the east.
Bangladesh is the biggest constitutes a part of the geology of the Bengal
basin and is related to the geological characteristics of the surrounding areas.
Geological structures have been formed and are controlled by the Tectonic
framework of the Bengal basin and the adjoining areas.
The GANGES-BRAHMAPUTRA DELTA basin or the BENGAL BASIN includes part of the
Indian state of West Bengal in the west and Tripura in the east. GEOLOGICAL
EVOLUTION of Bangladesh is basically related to the uplift of the Himalayan
Mountains and outbuilding of deltaic landmass by major RIVER systems originating
in the uplifted HIMALAYAS. This geology is mostly characterized by the
rapid SUBSIDENCE and filling of a basin in which a huge thickness of deltaic
sediments were deposited as a mega-delta out built and progressed towards the
south.
The DELTA building of Bangladesh is still continuing into the present BAY OF

BENGAL and a broad fluvial front of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system

gradually follows it from behind as shown in seismic zoning map of Bangladesh.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 1
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Only the eastern part of Bangladesh has been uplifted into hilly landform
incorporating itself into the frontal belt of the INDO-BURMAN RANGE lying to the
east.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 2
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Seismic Zoning Map of Bangladesh

(As Per BNBC-2020)

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 3
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Q-2: Discuss the tectonic frame-work and geological structures of Bangladesh.

Ans:
Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into large slabs of
solid rock, called “plates/frame,” that glide over Earth's mantle, the rocky inner
layer above Earth's core. Earth's solid outer layer, which includes the crust and the
uppermost mantle, is called the lithosphere.
Broad tectonic aspects have impact upon the geological structures such as
anticlines fold, synclines fold, faults and joints. The geological structures either
exposed or conceited have controlled the development alignment and changes of
drainage systems.
It is known that a few rivers follow faulted zones. It may be mentioned that the
anticline folds in comilla district plunge into Meghna Basin which comprises the
Meghna syncline. In Sylhet district the depressions occupy the synclinal areas. In
short, it may be said that the existence of ground water basins, extent of aquifers
and trends of ground water flow are closely related to the geological structures.
The strata forming the earth’s crust have been not only tilted out of the horizontal,
but also bent or buckled into folds. A complete fold is composed of an arched
portion or anticline and a depressed through or syncline.
The DELTA building of Bangladesh is still continuing into the present BAY OF

BENGAL and a broad fluvial front of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system

gradually follows it from behind. Only the eastern part of Bangladesh has been
uplifted into hilly landform incorporating itself into the frontal belt of the INDO-

BURMAN RANGE lying to the east as shown in seismic zoning map of Bangladesh.
All the above has been the result of the Indian plate colliding with the Asian plate
as explained by the universally accepted theory of PLATE TECTONICS.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 4
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Seismic Zoning Map of Bangladesh

(As Per BNBC-2020)

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 5
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 6
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Q-3 Lithological description of various formations for Geology of Bangladesh

 Lithological description of various formations is given in the following

sections:

Coastal deposit: The deposits cover the southern part of Khulna, Barisal,
Patuakhali and Noakhali districts and the western part of Chittagong district.

The surficial deposit consists of fine sand, silt and clay. Up to the depth of 150 feet
the sediments is composed of silt , clay and fine sand and below this medium sand
is encountered . Vertical and lateral changes in lithology are conspicuous. Prospect
of ground water resource at shallow depth may be poor.

Deltaic deposits: Old deltaic deposit covers part of Khulna, Faridpur and Barisal
districts. The deposit consists of clay, silt and fine sand. Up to the depth of about
150 feet the sediments is composed of silt, clay and fine sand and below this depth
generally medium sand is encountered. Prospect of ground water at depth below
150 feet may be good.

Alluvial deposit: The alluvial deposit consisting of stream deposit, natural levee
and backslaps deposits, swamp deposits, inter stream and piedmont deposits cover
the major part of Bangladesh. The aquifers in the alluvial deposits are of variable
thickness and extent. Most of the tube wells in Bangladesh are taping the water
resources from these aquifers.

Dishing formation: The formation consists of clay, fine sand and pebbles.
Modhupur and Barind clay belong to this formation. The sediment is exposed in
Dhaka, Tangail, Mymensingh, Bogra; Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Comilla, Sylhet and
Chittagong Districts. It is also encountered under the alluvial cover in some places.
Prospect of ground water in this formation is insignificant.

Dupi Tila Formation: The formation consists of poorly consolidated sandstones,

subordinate shale and clay. It is massive, thick-bedded yellow to yellowish brown
in color. This formation is exposed in Sylhet and Chittagong district end is
encountered in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Tangail, Bogra, Rajshahi and Dinajpur
districts. DupiTila formation underlies the dishing formation and alluvium overlies
the Tipam formation. The formation has been folded in Sylhet and Chittagong
district. Formation encountered in drill in other places does not show evidence that

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 7
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

the sediment has been folded. It is expected that this formation may be encountered
at shallower depth under the alluvial cover. The aquifer encountered at depth may
belong to this formation. Prospect of large scale ground water resources
development from this formation may be bright.

Tipam Formation: The upper part of Tipam formation is Girujan clay and the
lower part is ferruginous Tipam sandstone. Tipam sandstone is light yellow to light
brown in colour and fine to medium grained. Possibility of finding this sandy
formation at suitable depths under the alluvial cover is moorage.

Boka Bill Formation: Boka Bill is transitional between the Bhuban and the
overlying Tipam Formation. It is mostly sandstone and shale, sandstone is yellow,
fine grained subangular, massive to thick bedded weathers to brown and shale is
gray , fusible, highly cleared and weathers to light yellow.

Bhuban Formation: Sandstone is greenish gray, very fine grained ,medium to

thick bedded moderately hard grains or sub angular shape weathers to light gray
and whitish gray .

Shale: Yellowish grey to bluish gray, thin bedded highly cleaved and jointed;
weathers to light yellow and whitish gray.

Brail Group: no information has so for been obtained regarding the composition
of brail group.

Q-4 Discuss the economic geology occurrence for economic deposits of gas,
petroleum and mineral resources of Bangladesh.
Ans:
Economic geology occurrence of economic deposits of petroleum and MINERAL
RESOURCES has been controlled by the geological parameters specially by the
tectonic-structural setting and stratigraphy. For example, the large bituminous
coal deposits are restricted to northwestern Bangladesh because of the
occurrence of Permian rocks in graben basins within the Precambrian platform.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 8
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

On the other hand the large natural GAS reserves are located in eastern
Bangladesh because folded structures are available to trap the gas in thick Mio-
Pliocene sandstone reservoirs there. Bangladesh has so far discovered significant
amounts of economic mineral resources including natural gas, coal
and PEAT, LIMESTONE, crystalline hard rocks, heavy minerals, kaolinite
and GLASS SAND. Each of these resources is associated with specific geological
settings.
All the 22 gas fields discovered so far in Bangladesh are located in the
eastern half of the country. The gas occurs at depths ranging from about 1,000m
to 3,500m below the surface. The occurrence of natural gas depends, among other
factors, on the existence of suitable traps.
The eastern part of Bangladesh falls in the fold belt division and the anticlinal
folds form an excellent structural trap for gas accumulation.
The sandstone in the Miocene-Pliocene Surma group rocks have
served as excellent RESERVOIR rocks capped by interbedded shale forming seals.
The natural gas originating from source rocks below has conveniently migrated
upward to be accumulated in the structural traps in the Mio-Pliocene reservoir
sandstone.
Major bituminous coal deposits are located in Rangpur and Dinajpur
districts because of the occurrence of Permian sediments in the fault bounded
graben basin above the Precambrian basement. Permian sediments in most parts of
the world are rich in coal because of the favorable coal
forming ENVIRONMENT during the Permian geologic time, i.e. thick vegetation
and swampy conditions and coals are conveniently preserved where there are
graben basins, a setting found in the northwestern part, Dinajpur of
Bangladesh.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 9
 Sub : CE – 2007 (Geology)

Limestone is formed in a shallow calm open marine condition. During the middle
Eocene time northwestern Bangladesh was covered with such a shallow open
marine condition and the Sylhet Limestone formation was formed during that time.
Limestone is thus confined to areas where the Sylhet limestone formation
occurs. This formation is found in the subsurface in the Bogra-Rajshahi area and
found on the surface in the Lalghat-Bhangerhat areas of northern Sylhet.
Rich deposits of glass sand are found in many areas, mainly in the
eastern part of the country. The occurrence of glass sand depends on the process
of concentrating quartz in sand by washing away impurities. The glass sand
deposits are found as pockets or lens of quartz rich sand within the Dupi Tila
formation (Sylhet and Chittagong), itself a sand-dominating unit. The quartz rich
sand pockets were formed by the second cycle erosion and deposition of pre-
existing Tipam and older sandstone hills. The location of glass sand deposits is
controlled mainly by the occurrence of Dupi Tila Sandstone formation.

Prof. Dr. Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (CE), DUET, Gazipur Page No. 10